“Wow!” Maddie stared wide-eyed at the plane’s interior while being carefully lowered from Liam’s shoulders.
The jet’s spacious—and very expensive looking—cabin was impressive to say the least. Leather seats, a large, flat-screen TV mounted high on the wall to her right… There was even a couch toward the back, along with a small kitchenette area and a door she assume led to the aircraft’s restroom.
“So?” Liam’s attention was still on Maddie. “What do you think? You like it?”
The mesmerized little girl stared with a gaping jaw and braided pigtails that were rising and falling in time to her overzealous nod.
“I have one more surprise for you before we take off.”
“Really?” Her daughter turned her big eyes his way. “What?”
Before Liam could answer, another man’s deep rumble sounded from somewhere close behind.
“I’m guessing that would be me.”
Allison jumped with a start, her heart kicking hard against her ribs as she spun around to face the man who’d unexpectedly stepped out of the cockpit.
“Allison Gallo, meet Jagger Brooks,” Liam introduced the other man. “Jagger’s a member of Delta and a certified pilot.”
“Oh. Um…hi.” She held out an offered hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
The two shook as Allison took in the man’s features. Jagger was tall, dark, and every bit as good looking as his teammate. Even so, there was no immediate spark or jolt of energy racing through her system like there’d been the first time she met Liam.
“Nice meetin’ you, too,” Jagger drawled, giving her hand a quick shake. Glancing down, flashed a smile Maddie’s way. “And you must be Maddie. I’m Jagger.”
“Hi, Jagger.” The two shook hands. “Are you going to fly us to Seattle?”
“I am. But there’s just one problem, Maddie. Something I’m hopin’ you can help me with.”
“Me?”
“Uh, huh. You see, my co-pilot wasn’t able to make it, so I was thinking maybeyouwould like to fill in for him today.”
“Me?”
“Yep.”
“But I don’t know how to fly a plane.”
“Eh, it’s super easy.” He waved her concern off as if it were meaningless. “Come on. You can sit up front with me.” Jagger lifted his dark brown gaze Allison’s way. “That is, as long as it’s okay with your mom?”
“Please, Mom. Please, can I sit up front with Jagger?”
Like I can say no to that.
“As long as he doesn’t mind,” she agreed. “Just…don’t touch anything. Okay?”
“I won’t,” Maddie promised.
With her hand in Jagger’s, the two happily left to find their designated seats inside the cockpit. Allison appreciated the fact that the door had intentionally been left open, but that still didn’t calm her nerves.
They were only on this plane because she’d insisted they accompany Liam to Seattle. If anything happened on the way there or back…if, God forbid, something went wrong with the plane?—
“Don’t worry,” Liam rumbled low just over Allison’s left shoulder. As if the man could read minds, he added a comforting, “Jag’s the best pilot I know.”
Without taking her eyes off the part of the cockpit she could see, she had to ask, “And you’re sure it’s okay for her to be in there…with him?”
A mother can never be too careful.
